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Biomedical subjects

O Perrella

Publications and source records attributed to O Perrella.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Interleukin-6 and granulocyte macrophage-CSF in the cerebrospinal fluid from HIV infected subjects with involvement of the central nervous system.

We detected the cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and granulocyte macrophage-CSF (GM-CSF) by ELISA in the CSF and serum of 30 HIV-infected patients classified as AIDS dementia complex (ADC), and 20 subjects with other neurological diseases (OND). We have found a high incidence of detectable IL-6 and GM-CSF in the CSF of ADC patients compared with OND patients. No statistical differences were observed between both groups for serum IL-6 and GM-CSF levels. These results suggest an intrathecal synthesis of these cytokines and a possible involvement in the pathogenesis of ADC.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-6 and IgE in bacterial and viral meningitis.

The aim of the present study was to assess the significance of IgE and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in paired CSF and serum of patients with viral and bacterial infections of the central nervous system. The results suggest that the detection of IL-6 and IgE in CSF is an useful marker for monitoring course and prognosis of these patients.

Humans↗

Cerebrospinal fluid beta-2-microglobulin in HIV-1 infection, as a marker of neurological involvement.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum concentration of beta-2-microglobulin (beta-2-m) were evaluated in 30 patients in various stages of HIV-1 infection. CSF beta-2-m and CSF/serum ratio were significantly higher in patients with neurological complications respect to asymptomatic subjects. These findings indicate that CSF beta-2-m and CSF/serum ratio may be a useful marker of neurological involvement in HIV-1 infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in HIV infection: therapeutic possibilities of intravenous immunoglobulins.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is often present in HIV infections and may occur at any stage with frequently severe hemorrhagic risks. In order to evaluate the possible beneficial therapeutic effects of intravenous immunoglobulins at doses of 1 g/Kg/day, the author compared two groups of 10 HIV positive patients each, with severe thrombocytopenia treated with randomized therapy. The different results obtained in the two groups were significant both for the restoration and the maintenance of the platelet count and therefore for the duration of the hemorrhagic disorders.

Follow-Up Studies↗

Hepatic and peripheral T-lymphocyte patterns in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection: what correlation with histological activity?

The immunopathological processes involved in hepatic damage during chronic hepatitis C infection are not fully understood. Several works suggest the role of T helper 1 (Th1) immune response in both injury and fibrinogenesis. in this study, we have analyzed peripheral and intrahepatic T-lymphocyte subsets in liver biopsy specimens of 13 patients with definite chronic hepatitis C (CHC) to explore the possible direct role of these patterns in the evolution of necrotic inflammation and fibrogenesis scored according to the Knodell histological activity index. in particular, we have studied CD4+/CD7+ T-lymphocytes, as phenotypic marker of Th1 immune response, CD4+/CD7- as Th2 marker, and CD8+/CD38 as activated CD8+ lymphocytes. on statistical analyses we found a significant negative correlation in liver CD8+/CD38+ T-cells grading (r= -0.607; p<0.05) and staging index (r= -0.650; p<0.05) and between CD4+/CD7+ and grading (r= -0.626; p<0.05) index. in addition, we found a positive strong correlation between CD38+/CD8+ and CD4+/CD7+ T cells (r= 0.783; p<0.05) in liver tissue and between peripheral and liver resident CD8+/CD38+ (r= 683; p<0.05). moreover, the hepatic CD4+/CD7+ T-cells showed a positive correlation with peripheral CD 8+/CD38+ T-cells (r= 0.676; p<0.05). A strong positive correlation was also observed between grading and staging index (r= 0.921; p<0.01). we found no statistical correlation between the above variables and CD4+/CD7- T cells. our data could suggest that a preferential hepatic CD4+/CD7+ OR CD8+/CD38+ T cell subset was not directly associated with hepatic damage but, on the contrary, it could have been able to block liver injury. Concerning the peripheral subsets, the only CD8+/CD 38+ T-cells result reflect the CTL activity in the liver tissue. further studies are required to better understand the possible correlation between peripheral and liver resident T-helper, subset and other hepatic resident immunocompetent cells.

Journal Article↗

Immune response in liver transplantation: is there a preferential pattern in acute rejection?

To determine the immune factors involved in liver graft rejection, a study on 14 liver transplants was conducted. We have, in particular, studied CD4+CD7+ and CD8+CD38+ T cells in both liver tissue and blood of patients with and without acute rejection. Contemporarily, IL-2 and IL-4 secretion in both plasma and stimulated culture supernatants from hepatic T cells was evaluated. Early acute rejection was characterized by a higher expression of CD4+CD7+ and CD8+CD38+ T lymphocytes in the liver than in blood (p<0.001). Moreover, a preferential proinflammatory (Thl) cytokine profile was related to liver resident T cells in comparison with corresponding plasma (p<0.001). Conversely, in the patients without acute rejection CD4+CD7+ was higher in blood than in liver and the Th2-like cytokine profile characterized these subjects. Our data suggest that a preferential Th1 immune mechanism operates in a local fashion and may be involved in acute rejection.

Journal Article↗

Cytokines in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.

The authors evaluate the involvement of various cytokines (interleukin-1, interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and gamma-interferon) in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. The cytokines might participate in nervous tissue damage by promoting demyelination and oligodendrocyte injury or by enhancing local immune response. In addition, several authors reported increased levels of some cytokines in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis. These findings suggest that cytokines can play a significant role in the immunopathogenesis of the disease.

Cytokines↗

Cerebrospinal fluid T cell receptor gamma/delta+ lymphocyte subsets in patient with AIDS-dementia complex.

A subset of peripheral T cells, whose physiological function is little known, expresses a distinct CD3-associated receptor composed of gamma and delta chains. We used two monoclonal antibodies to characterize the TcR gamma/delta lymphocytes (TcR delta 1+) and their fraction (TcS delta 1+) in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients affected by AIDS dementia complex (ADC). Thirty patients with ADC and a control group of twenty individuals with other non-inflammatory neurological diseases (OND) were recruited. Our results demonstrate that the TcR gamma/delta cells were also present in cerebrospinal fluid of ADC patients, but we did not find any statistical difference between the two groups.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor and soluble CD8 molecules in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of patients with multiple sclerosis.

The purpose of this study was to analyse soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and soluble CD8 (sCD8) molecules in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 18 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and of 16 with noninflammatory neurologic diseases (NIND). All MS patients suffered from an exacerbation of the relapsing-remitting form of the disease within one month before examination. The mean serum levels of sIL-2R and sCD8 in the MS patients were not significantly different from those of NIND patients. Only one patient with MS had detectable sIL-2R in the CSF. CSF sCD8 was detectable in 10 of 18 MS patients and in 1 of 16 NIND patients. Our data indicate that the CSF and serum sIL-2R concentrations do not correlate with the disease activity. Conversely, increased levels of sCD8 only in the CSF of MS patients support the hypothesis of an intrathecal activation of CD8+ cells in MS. We think that CSF sCD8 can be a useful marker for the presence of activated T cells in the central nervous system.

Adult↗

[Levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) in lymphocyte cultures of subjects with HIV-1 infection].

The authors report IL-4 levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), stimulated with MoAb anti-CD3, in subjects with HIV-1 infection, classified according to the criteria of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in various stages. The results "in vitro" have indicate that PBMC IL-4 levels were in normal range also in advanced stages of retroviral infection, and were correlated to low levels of CD4+ lymphocytes and, sometimes, to high levels of IgE immunoglobulins. The normality of IL-4 levels in advanced stages or in presence of decreased CD4+ cells, suggests that the production of this cytokine is also present in other subsets of mononuclear cells not involved in this infection. Moreover the presence of significant correlation between high levels of Ig E and IL-4 suggests a possible pathogenetic role of IL-4 in the determination of isotypic switch of this immunoglobulin.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗

[Seroepidemiologic and behavioral characteristics of a group of HIV-Ab positive homosexuals].

The present study was designed to demonstrate the role of homosexuality in transmission of HIV infection. The results, in cases showed by authors, suggest that the homosexuality is not significative for transmission in HIV infection. Whereas it is significative (56.52%) in transmission of syphilis. The study has demonstrated that homosexuals are not disposed very much to the use of sexual prevention.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗